THE RELIC GUILD (and other stories) Updated regularly.

THE SKIN MECHANIC (part 5 of 6)

We never spoke about what happened, but, after that night, Mia became paranoid. She constantly sought assurances that I wouldn't leave her behind when what she called 'Skin Day' came around again. She was obsessed with Max, asking question after question, but never truly listening to any answers I gave. I realise now that without Max I held no interest for her.

When 'Skin Day' did come around again, I felt that I had no choice but to take Mia with me. Perhaps I should've told her that.

I awoke late that morning to the sound of Mia coming into the room. She had been out to get me a fast food breakfast: bitter coffee and anaemic pancakes with a sachet of maple-flavoured syrup. I ate in bed, while Mia smoked by the open window. There were tears in her eyes.

"I just heard on the radio," she said. "The police caught the Sat-Nav Killer last night."

I carried on eating.

"Don't you care?" Mia asked. I remember her voice sounded somehow empty. "Larry was my friend. Fucking pigs! I wish I could kill them all."

I just didn't know what she wanted me to say. It didn't matter.

"You don't get it, do you?" Mia's teeth were gritted. "That could've been you and me. If we're not careful, the police will find us eventually. We need to look out for each other."

Perhaps Mia was jealous. Did she wish Max was her parasite? I think so. The breakfast she gave me had a bitter aftertaste that made me feel sick, and by the time I realised what Mia had done to me, I was already too doped to move. I remember her saying, "I'm going to look after you from now on," and then there's a gap – a cut scene.

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